Network File System

Network environment - System-managed storage

Overview

The z/OS™ Network File System (NFS) is a network file system product that brings IBM® leading-edge, system-managed storage to the network environment. It lets you optimize efficiency in a distributed network while still capitalizing on the capacity, security, and integrity of z/OS multiple virtual storage (MVS).

Use z/OS NFS for file serving (as a data repository) and file sharing between platforms supported by z/OS.

Use NFS to remotely access both conventional MVS data sets and UNIX® files. These remote MVS data sets or z/OS UNIX files are mounted from the mainframe to appear as local directories or files on the client system. As a result, you can bring the resources of an MVS system (such as system-managed storage, high-performance storage access, file access security, and centralized data access) to client platforms, with the option of data encryption.

The z/OS NFS server is used with an NFS client which allows remote applications on other servers to access z/OS data. Tested clients for the z/OS NFS server include:

AIX

Solaris

Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server)

Microsoft Windows with OpenText Maestro NFS

Other client platforms should work as well, since NFS version 4 is an industry standard protocol, but have not been tested by IBM. Older versions of the listed clients are still supported under the NFS version 2 and version 3 protocols, but not all have been tested by IBM.

See Link to NFS Quick Setup Guide at the right for shotcut bringing up z/OS NFS, or publication for complete detail.